Chapter Twelve - What Friends Are For
James just looked on confused. "Sheila please wait," Christian called after her.
But she didn't bother to wait and by the time he pushed past James, she was gone. "Where did she go?" Christian said. "The stairs," James replied but before he could make a move to go after her James halted him.
"You called her Sheila? She isn't your cousin, is she? What the hell is this all about?"
Christian didn't want to take the time to explain he was wasting precious time going after her, he knew if he let her go this time she wouldn't seek him out and could keep herself very well hidden until it was time for him to return to New York. He made up his mind and decided he was going to follow but James grabbed his arm stopping him in his tracks.
"It's her, isn't it? She's the girl from the party."
If his hand wasn't already in a cast Christian knew it would have been planted right across James' jaw. "I don't have time for this," Christian told him but as James didn't seem to be relinquishing his grasp on his arm he had little choice.
"Well make the time," James said dragging him back inside his hotel room and he shut the door. "I'm right, aren't I. She is the genie." James said the thoughts fell into place. "Genie... your cousin Jeannie. Of course," he said smacking the palm of his hand against his temple. "How could I have been so blind? All this time she was right in front of me. Who is she? Who is she really?" James asked.
Christian had it. He whirled on his friend. "You want to know who she is?" Christian said shoving James so hard he stumbles backward. "She's the love of my life and now thanks to you she just managed to walk out of my life forever," Christian said kicking over the small trash bin to relieve some of his frustration.
"Me? What do I have to do with any of this? At least now I understand why you wouldn't let me anywhere near her," James said picking up the trash bin and placing it upright again. "Why didn't you tell me the truth?" James asked. "You know I would never go after a girl you wanted."
Christian scoffed. "It's always about you, isn't it? Please don't go noble on me now I don't think I could handle it." James looked confused but Christian didn't bother to explain.
"What happened here?" James asked thinking he had an idea but thought he should shut up long enough to hear what his friend had to say. Christian ruffled his hair by running his hand through it and continued to pace through the room like a caged animal. "She found out about Debbie."
"Debbie?" James grimaced. Whatever he was prepared for Christian to tell him that wasn't it. "How?"
Wandering back and forth Christian stopped a moment pulling the wallet from his pocket. A few seconds later procuring his wedding picture for James to see. James just rolled his eyes. "Dude how did she see it?"
Christian laughed in contempt of himself. "I handed it to her." Shaking his head at the injustice of it all. "I gave her my wallet at the hospital so she could give them my insurance card she must have seen it then." He said groaning out loud. "No wonder she looked so upset when she came to see me." It all made sense to him and then something else struck him.
He looked in awe at his friend. "She said she was falling in love with me or at least she said that she could fall in love with me." Christian's eyes widened and he suddenly looked panicked. "I have to find her. I have to explain. Make her understand. Me and Debbie...it's over between us it's been over for a really long time."
James just stared on in amazement he had never seen Christian like this before especially over a woman, not even Debbie. He acted like a mad man, going from anger to sadness, to panic all within seconds of each emotion. Now Christian was pacing again and suddenly stopped throwing his hand up in defeat.
"What? What is it?" James asked looking at the dejected look on his best friend's face.
"I've lost her," Christian said all at once his manic energy deflated and left him. He flopped onto the couch no longer able to stand.
"Nonsense," James said sitting next to his friend. "You love her right?"
"My whole adult life." He told him. "Then just go to her and explain the situation. If she really is falling for you she'll listen."
Christian just shook his head in denial. "There's only one problem with that solution." He said defeated. "I don't know where she lives."
James looked dumbstruck. "The love of your life and you don't know her address?"
"Nope," Christian said resting his splitting head in his good hand.
"Her phone number then?" James asked.
Christian just shook his head, "No."
James rolled his eyes. "What do you know about this woman?"
Christian shrugged, "I know where she works but fat chance of me getting through to talk to her. She's more protected in that place then the president is in his undisclosed location. And after what happened, I can't show my face there. I'll be thrown out of the place on sight and that's only if she's there. She may not even show up to work. She may just bide her time until I go back to New York."
James brows drew together sharply, "I never took you as a quitter." He said annoyed.
Christian just looked up at his friend. "My chances are slim to none to getting to her, let alone close enough to make her see reason."
James smiled at him mischievously, "That's why you got me."
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The next morning Sheila could not believe how angry she still felt. She knew she had no right. It's not like Christian and she were in a relationship. Hell, they hadn't even had a first date. Still the way he looked at her. The way they kissed. The feelings those looks and kisses made her feel. It wasn't fair.
Strolling down South Street she took a turn down, Bainbridge, to get some coffee. She had to think this through. None of it made any sense. "How can he be married?" she yelled out in frustration, making the couple that was walking towards her, cross the street to avoid the crazy woman. She would think their actions funny except she felt like a crazy woman. As she waited in line, she just kept shaking her head at her thoughts. Taking her coffee she ordered from the barista she found a seat by the window.
"Hey, there sweet thing."
Sheila sighed in relief. She turned in her chair to look at her best friend of all time. But was shocked when she saw he was sporting a serious bruise from his ear to his temple on the left side of his face. Suddenly her problem seemed insignificant.
"Wes, my God, what happened to you?" she said ushering the rather large Nordic-looking man to the chair across from her. Have all the men in her life gone crazy?
He touched his face lightly and shrugged. "Nothing serious. A lucky shot really."
Sheila laughed at his appraisal. "Knowing you, I would hate to see the other guy." Wes brought the phrase, "built like a gay guy" to a whole new level. He was a champion bodybuilder, winning Mr. Natural several times and was a trainer for mixed martial arts. Few people knew he was gay though. Sheila was one of the first people he came out to, having known one another since childhood. Both were seriously bullied in grade school. Sheila because of her weight and Wes well...because he was "different". One day Sheila was jumped by someone lying in wait for her on her way home from school and Wes jumped in and beat the guy up, they had been friends ever since.
Wes chuckled, it was a deep sound and immediately brought a smile to Sheila's lips.
"You want to talk about it?" Sheila prodded.
Wes shrugged, "Not much to say. Was with one of the dancers, she was being propositioned by a real loser and I made the mistake of standing up for her. Turns out she would have been perfect for the guy."
"Why do you do it?"
"What? Try at playing it straight?" he shrugged again but this time looked a little bit sadder. "It's what's expected." Then he smiled at her again, "Okay, moving on."
Sheila almost wished she could get wrapped up in someone else's problems to avoid her own but knew Wes would never allow it. She took a big swig of her mocha latte slim. "I'm in love. Or well I could be if he weren't ...well, married." Sheila groaned at the last word and her arms dropped to her sides and her head hit the table.
"Oh, little sis," he said and stroked her hair.
She lifted her head up. Resting on her chin. "I know. I know, but it's just...He's so... Augh!"
"And back to the hitting?" Wes chuckled. "You know you can't do this right? Of limits."
"I know. Or at least I keep telling myself that. It's just so hard. I still can't believe it."
"So, who is he and where do you know him from?" Wes asked taking a sip of his black coffee, no sugar.
"College?"
"It's not that James guy, you mentioned about forty or fifty thousand times over the four very pathetic years of your life is it?" Wes cringed just thinking of Sheila wasting her time and life on a loser like that.
"No, it's his best friend," Sheila said wincing.
"Not, much better Shells."
"No, Christian is not like James. He's sweet and loving and..."
"MARRIED!" Wes added.
Sheila let out a whimper and Wes crumbled. He slid his chair over to her and just held on to her for a minute or two.
"Why does this have to be so hard?" Shelia whined.
"It's not supposed to. Not when it's the real thing. Or so I've been told," he added as he squeezed her a little tighter.
"What about you and Kyle?" she asked looking up at him.
Wes shrugged. "Can't figure that one out. Can't seem to make him happy. So, we've decided to take a break."
"I'm sorry," was all Sheila could think to say, hugging him back.
"Want to go on a binge," Wes asked.
"What did you have in mind?" Sheila asked knowing what he would say as he knew her one true weakness.
"Icecream?"
"Franklin Fountain?" Sheila asked hopefully.
Wes' smile broadened. "You know it. Meet you there after work?"
"It's a date," Sheila said brightening. Icecream was usually avoided at all cost but this place should have a break in case of an emergency sign on their shop door. Their banana split and hot chocolate can soothe the most wounded of hearts.
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